Word of God is never boring . . .

 

READ 2 Chronicles 29–32

History was not a favorite subject in school, but I realized later that boring textbooks were the reason. Years later, our daughter brought her well written textbook home. It was far more interesting.

Today I note more interest in OT history, not that the writing has changed, but that God is showing me practical ways it applies to my life. For instance, when the OT kings did what God wanted, their lives were clearly a blessing to themselves and others.

Ahaz was not a good king, but his son Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. Note that the Word points to David rather than Ahaz. For those with abusive parents, try looking farther up the family tree; comfort might be there!

Hezekiah began his reign by opening and repairing the doors of the house of the Lord. He told the Levites to consecrate themselves and clean out the filth in it and get back to the duties they had been entrusted to do. (29:5–11) The priests did as they were told. Sacrifices were brought and made as atonement for all the nation. These offerings were accompanied by singing and music and “when the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped . . . . Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.” (2 Chronicles 29:29–36)

Then the decree went out that the people should keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. Hezekiah said:

“For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)

Some laughed at the decree and mocked the messengers, but others “humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.” (30:10–12)

Many of the people had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover anyway because Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people, producing immense joy in Jerusalem. “Since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.”

After that, they destroyed the high places and altars of idolatry. Then the people of Israel gave abundant tithes of everything they had. (31:1-5)

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. (31:20–21)

Then the Assyrians decided to attack. Hezekiah stopped the water from the springs, restored the broken wall, raised towers and built another wall, and made weapons and shields in abundance. He set combat commanders over the people and spoke encouragingly to them:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (32:6–8)

The Assyrians tried to thwart them with lies and blasphemy, speaking about God as if He were like their gods (who were merely the work of man’s hands) but “Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet cried to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria.” He went home in shame where his sons killed him.

Hezekiah ended life with pride of heart but “humbled himself” and averted the wrath of the Lord. His “good deeds” are recorded here and in Kings for my instruction as Romans 15:4 says, to give me endurance and encouragement. Obedience to God results in blessing. This is grace. My sin deserves nothing from God, yet in mercy, He changed my hard heart and gives me the Holy Spirit — good news that what was once boring and uninteresting is now practical, helpful, even fascinating. I love You Lord and thank You for revealing in so many ways that following You is the very best way to live.

 

Who says the OT is boring?

 

 

READ Deuteronomy 17–20

Today’s reading begins with a direct picture of Jesus: “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.”  (Deuteronomy 17:1) No, He is not an ox but He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, and by the command of God, this ultimate sacrifice had to be the Son of God. All others are born with a sinful nature, a nature that ignores the commands of God.

Connecting this reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for sin with the verses that follow, God also reminds me that His salvation is by grace alone. Those who believe are saved because of mercy, because of Christ. Apart from Him, OT laws reveal what would happen if He had not taken our place and our punishment.

“If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them . . . you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones . . . . So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 17:2–7)

Jesus took that death sentence for my idolatrous heart.

“The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:12)

Jesus took that death sentence for my disobedience to authority.

God allowed His people to set a king over them, one of His choice, not a foreigner, but “he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses . . . . And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” (Deuteronomy 17:15–17) Solomon broke those laws and lived. Christ took his death sentence for his lust for power, women and wealth as well as my sinful desires.

The OT kings were to read the Law “all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18–20) Many of the kings not only disobeyed this command, but sinned mightily. Christ took their death sentence and mine also.

Some of His people went so far as burning sons or daughters as an offering, practiced divination, told fortunes, interpreted omens, consulted sorcerers, charmers, mediums, or necromancers and “whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” even though they were to “be blameless before the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 18:10–13) and Christ died for these sins also, and mine.

In mercy, God provided cities of refuge for those who killed someone without intent and accidentally. He made laws to insure fair trials and insisted on evidence against wrong doing be provided by “two witnesses or three witnesses” with instructions to judges for anyone who accused his brother falsely to “do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” (Deuteronomy 19:4–19) This is mercy and grace from God who loves us and Jesus who died for us.

His people also were not to be afraid of their enemies “for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 20:1) They were to offer terms of peace to cities that resisted them, but those cities He gave them for an inheritance must be purged of all that lives. This complete destruction would save them from being drawn into their sin, but they failed to obey. (Deuteronomy 20:10–18) This same God tells me to deal with anything that will pull me away from Him, yet be at peace with others that are not a threat . . . and the only way I even want to do this is because of Christ.

If anyone thinks the OT is boring, try first asking to see Christ in it and the love of God in it, and then be blessed with the surprises!